Moderate earthquake hits off eastern Taiwan

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau says a moderate 5.2-magnitude earthquake has struck off the eastern coast of the island.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau says a moderate 5.2-magnitude earthquake has struck off the eastern coast of the island. No casualties, damage, or a tsunami were immediately reported.

The bureau says the quake hit at 11:17 am on Monday (0317 GMT) and it was centered 22 miles (35 kilometers) from the county of Hualien, 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of the capital Taipei. Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.